Key Professionals

As the Co-Founder of InSite, Mr. Ker brings over 20 years of leadership and financial expertise to drive the company’s vision and strategic growth. With a strong background in both engineering and finance, Mr. Ker combines an in-depth understanding of the technical and financial challenges faced by the firm, ensuring both operational excellence and financial stability. By fostering a collaborative work environment and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, Mr. Ker has helped lead the firm to new heights, expanding its services and client base.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Ker is deeply committed to giving back to the local community, supporting initiatives that promote education, youth sports and health and wellness.

Mr. Ker holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cornell University.

“Just remember, you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” ‑ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Jason Fichter is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of InSite. Since co-founding the firm in 2003, Jason has played a central role in shaping its strategic direction, culture, and continued growth. With industry experience dating back to 1995, he brings deep insight and leadership to all facets of the business.

Jason leads the development and execution of InSite’s Strategic Plan—a comprehensive blueprint that defines the firm’s Mission, Vision, SWOT analysis, and actionable Goals and Strategies. He organizes and facilitates the firm’s annual partner retreat, where progress is measured and future priorities are refined. He also spearheads the identification and evaluation of strategic acquisition opportunities that align with the firm’s long-term objectives.

In addition to strategic leadership, Jason oversees InSite’s evolving IT infrastructure, ensuring the firm remains at the forefront of technology in the land development industry. He is also actively engaged in business development, helping to cultivate relationships and pursue opportunities that align with the firm’s vision and values. Jason remains actively involved in project delivery, working closely with clients and teams to guide projects, mentor staff, and foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach.

Above all, Jason is dedicated to providing thoughtful leadership—to his colleagues, clients, and the communities InSite serves.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University, where he demonstrated early leadership as a member of the Division I men’s basketball team. He was honored and humbled to be elected team Co-Captain by his teammates and coaches for both his junior and senior seasons—a reflection of their trust in his leadership on and off the court.

Jason’s leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that lasting success comes through teamwork, shared purpose, and collective effort. He often reflects on the saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” a principle that guides his approach to leading InSite and fostering a culture of collaboration. He also embraces its succinct form: “Faster alone, further together.”

Eric R. Ballou, PE, has been responsible for overseeing and completing land development, site engineering, permitting, and design approvals for residential, commercial, mixed-use, healthcare, industrial, hospitality, and recreational site development projects since 1995. His career has focused on providing project management for site consulting services, particularly for urban revitalization projects along the New Jersey coastline and in inland areas. His attention to detail, combined with the ability to understand and address complex site constraints, makes him a valuable asset in the revitalization of existing properties. Eric’s deep respect for and understanding of other project team members—such as architects, landscape architects, traffic engineers, and environmental engineers—fosters active collaboration, ensuring the delivery of the best possible product to meet client development goals.

Mr. Ballou received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” ‑ Walt Disney

Patrick R. Ward, PE, PP has been integral to the design and management of various land development projects throughout the State of New Jersey since 2009. He applies his technical, regulatory, and planning expertise to achieve the client’s vision for projects of any size. He strives to approach projects with tact and efficiency from day one of acquisition due diligence – through design, entitlements, and construction completion in order to provide the client with the best possible product and service.

Mr. Ward received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

“Play like a champion today”

Mr. Grover has been leading and designing a wide range of land development projects across New Jersey since 2002. Before joining InSite Engineering, he served as an in-house engineer for one of the country’s top homebuilders. His extensive experience spans all phases of project development, including acquisition, design and permitting, construction, and project closeout. Mr. Grover values the expertise of key project collaborators—such as architects, environmental engineers, and landscape architects—fostering a strong, cooperative team environment that ensures the delivery of high-quality results that align with the client’s development goals.

Mr. Grover holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” ‑ Vince Lombardi

Christopher M. Bednarski, PE is an experienced multi-faceted civil engineer with a proven track record designing and supervising large-scale and small-scale urban redevelopment projects since 2008. Using his sound technical and project management experience, Mr. Bednarski has worked on a variety of commercial, residential, healthcare, industrial, hospitality, and mixed-use projects throughout the State of New Jersey. His ability to interact, understand, and communicate the needs of clients while also navigating the approval process is a major asset for completing projects to ensure that quality, scheduling, and budget are up to the high standards of InSite Engineering.

Mr. Bednarski received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree with a Minor in Environmental Engineering from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware.

Chris loves all things baseball and spends his free time going to New York Mets games with his wife and kids, coaching his son’s baseball team, and pitching/managing for the InSite Engineering Softball team.

Douglas D. Clelland, PE is a seasoned civil engineer with over a decade of experience in design, management, and permitting throughout New Jersey. He has worked on residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects of all sizes, giving him a practical edge in bridging design and construction challenges.

Having served as a Board Engineer for a local planning and zoning board, Doug leverages his regulatory insight to streamline private land development projects for his clients. He emphasizes strong collaboration and consistently delivers projects on time while upholding high standards.

Born and raised in Ocean County, Doug is proud to support the firm’s recent expansion into the area and looks forward to helping shape responsible, high-quality development in the region.

Mr. Clelland received a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from the University of Rhode Island.

“Congratulations, you’ve just joined the 76% of Americans who forget to stretch before doing any physical activity.” ‑ Tony Perkis, Heavyweights

Ellen has been with InSite since 2012. With over a decade of experience at the firm, Ellen plays a key role in overseeing financial operations and human resources, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic growth. Her dedication to accuracy, efficiency, and financial stewardship has been integral to the company’s success and expansion. Ellen grew up at the Jersey Shore and graduated with honors from Bucknell University. When not at InSite, Ellen enjoys reading, gardening, kayaking, hiking, and going on adventures with her husband Pat and her dog Harper.

Fun Fact: Can recite all of the US Presidents….in order.

Jay Battesh, PE has been a dedicated civil engineer at InSite Engineering since 2017, specializing in land development projects throughout New Jersey. With a strong technical background and a commitment to delivering efficient and cost-effective solutions, Mr. Battesh has worked on a variety of commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments. His ability to apply creative solutions while navigating complex site constraints, permitting requirements, and continually changing regulatory challenges makes him a valuable asset to his clients and project teams.

Prior to joining InSite, Mr. Battesh spent five years as a project engineer for a DoD contractor designing nuclear submarines. This experience provided him with extensive project management skills and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on highly technical, complex, and demanding projects.

Mr. Battesh holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo.

“Do what makes you happy”

Liam R. Farrar, PE, has designed, permitted and managed a large variety of projects since 1997, with a special focus on urban redevelopment in northeastern New Jersey in such cities as Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, Newark and Paterson. Mr. Farrar’s projects include large mixed-use redevelopment sites featuring high-rise residential, commercial space and healthcare uses.

Mr. Farrar received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University.

Maria is the Business Development Manager at InSite, where she has played a key role in the firm’s growth and visibility since 2013. With a strong background in relationship-building, strategic planning, and brand development, she oversees client engagement, proposal development, and marketing initiatives that support the firm’s mission and values. Her work helps ensure that InSite continues to build lasting partnerships and deliver exceptional service across the region.

“Coffee, please, and a shot of cynicism.”
‑ Lorelai Gilmore

H. Melissa Buterick has been involved in almost all aspects of environmental consulting, focusing the forward part of her career on site remediation with a specialty in projects related to the Industrial Site Recovery Act, while maintaining her subsurface evaluator’s certification. For the better part of the last decade, Ms. Buterick has turned her attention to the land use side of environmental consulting, using her knowledge and experience on how federal laws are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to impact site design and development, including but not limited to the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules, Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules, and the Coastal Zone Management Rules. Ms. Buterick has been involved in the design of projects ranging from single-family residential projects to large-scale, mixed-use commercial/industrial projects facing multi-faceted regulatory constraints and requiring multiple approvals.

Ms. Buterick received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Earth Sciences from Boston University.

Stephen G. Musto, PE, CME has experience designing and managing land developments projects since 2013. His experience includes commercial, residential, mixed-use, warehouses, shopping centers, and redevelopment projects all over New Jersey. His technical expertise and attention to detail paired with his knowledge of the numerous regulations across different municipalities, counties, and review agencies make him an asset for obtaining the necessary approvals for any project. His communication with clients, design team, and review agencies is a valuable resource to ensure the project reaches its goal.

Mr. Musto received a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Minor in Green Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Stephen enjoys his time outside of work at the beach, at the park, or in his garden. He is a lifelong Mets, Jets, and Knicks fan.

Andrea Hopkin, LLA, has excelled in her ever-evolving practice of Landscape Architecture with creativity and pragmatism since 1994. A resourceful problem-solver, she balances the aesthetic elements of design with the functionality of space, creating landscapes that are visually engaging, technically sound and environmentally sustainable. Ms. Hopkin leverages her expertise in nature-based design to bring innovative solutions to complex projects across multiple sectors including commercial, multi-family residential, assisted living, hotel/hospitality, public utility and municipal facilities. An enthusiastic collaborator, she draws upon her experience having worked with allied professionals at environmental firms, multi-disciplinary engineering firms and in her own private practice to add practical value to all phases of her clients’ projects. Ms. Hopkin specializes in sustainable design practices, utilizing native plants, biophilic design, green infrastructure and bioengineering, providing high quality deliverables that meet approval and budgetary requirements.

Ms. Hopkin holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Penn State University where she received an ASLA Honor Award for design. She also completed graduate work at the University of Massachusetts, studying bioengineering techniques and teaching undergraduate design studios and horticulture.

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
‑ John Muir